Starting Monday, calorie counts will be posted at its more than 14,000 U.S. locations. That means customers will know off the bat that four pieces of Chicken McNuggets have 190 calories and that a McCafe Iced Mocha has 260.

In some cities and states such as New York City and California, menu labeling is already required for major chains such as McDonald’s. Comprehensive federal regulations, passed as part of President Obama’s sweeping healthcare reform bill, are still undergoing adjustments.

But the Golden Arches’ preemptive effort will likely compel competitors to follow suit, as they did when the chain began offering salads and highlighting fresh ingredients in its marketing. McDonald’s has also made other moves to clean up its reputation as a delivery chute for obesity.

In 2011, the chain bowed to pressure from health advocacy groups and began adding a serving of fruit or vegetables to all Happy Meals while shrinking the amount of French fries. In time for the London Olympics this year, the company announced its “Favorites under 400 calories” promotion, featuring the 80% of its U.S. menu that it said fell under the limit.

On Wednesday, McDonald’s also said it was testing out more better-for-you options, including seasonal produce such as blueberries and cucumbers, grilled chicken, McWraps starting at 350 calories and a version of the Egg McMuffin made with egg whites and a whole grain muffin.

“We’ve made a lot of good progress toward our nutrition commitments and we recognize there’s still more to do,” said Dr. Cindy Goody, McDonald’s senior director of nutrition, in a statement.

“McDonald’s wants to paint itself as a leader, but in truth, regulations that appear in the Affordable Care Act will soon require McDonald’s to implement these changes,” Deon said in a statement. “The corporation must stop the egregious, targeted marketing of its unhealthy brand to children, and go further to mitigate its impact on our children’s health.”

In-N-Out, McDonald’s Corp., Jack in the Box, Burger King and other chains quickly cut ties with Central Valley Meat Co. this week after undercover footage from an animal welfare group showed cows at the California slaughterhouse seemingly tortured and otherwise mistreated.

A burst of thunderstorm activity across the Chicago-area in mid-afternoon Sunday resulted in multiple injuries and a death at an event in west suburban Wood Dale, the collapse of a dome in northwest suburban Rosemont and the temporary evacuation of the music festival Lollapalooza in Grant Park...

Now there are two: Zimbabwe accused a Pennsylvania doctor on Sunday of illegally killing a lion in April, adding to the outcry over a Minnesota dentist the African government wants to extradite for killing a well-known lion named Cecil in early July.